Chương 304: When the smoke settles...

As smoke and flames shot from the tall, dark building, the sounds of battle filled the town. The clang of metal on metal echoed out of the smokehouse. The roars of a great beast shook the houses, coupled with insane screams that hurt the listener's ears and brain. The workers who knew him could tell the difference between the roars from the Butcher and those from the daemon.

Off-duty legionnaires, in town for dinner or a beer, and members of the Red Banner drew weapons and formed a rough circle in front of the building. Jenny came out to sit on a bench in front of her house and listen to the soothing sounds of the fight. Granny Gorpunkle joined her and brought her knitting. Above the smokehouse, the floating ship was glowing as the crew threw their heat into the sails. Emilio turned to Bernice, "More wine?" She held out her mug like a sleepwalker and then shook herself.

"What the hell is going on." They had come outside when the clamor of battle had first been heard. She'd started to run and mobilize the company, but Roderick held her back.

"Best not to get involved in that fight. That is a very dangerous building. I suggest another bottle of wine and some patience."

"Patience!? How can you just sit and watch?" Roderick held out his hands and shrugged.

"Well, first of all, I am a merchant. What am I going to do in the middle of a battle? Sell healing potions? I am not a... well, not a captain of mercenaries." His father laughed.

"I was running a shop during the burger revolt in Lichtenburg. The burgers were running around shouting "Good Day!" and hitting people in the Baron's colors with their spiked clubs, and the Baron's men were attacking the Burgers. I strolled through town, ignored by both sides. I sold so many healing potions that day!" Roderick glared at his father and continued.

"Secondly, this is Sedgewick. Strange things happen, and when the locals need help, they let us know. Best to just watch." So, they drank and listened and watched as whatever was happening happened. The stones of the smokehouse glowed brightly and then turned black and shiny. The change worked its way up the building, changing the color of wood, stone, and shingles. Heat started radiating from the stones, making the air around the smokehouse ripple; there was one long, mournful scream and then silence.

A few minutes later, the double doors were kicked open, and the Butcher came out carrying a barrel which he set into a wagon with two others. He was clothed in boots and torn pants, covered in blood, smoke, and bruises. Despite that, he was whistling and smiling as if nothing had happened. Spying the people watching, he walked over.

"Hiya folks, nice evening, isn't it? I've got three barrels of bacon ready for the Red Banner. Where should I deliver it?" He offered no explanation of what had happened, and the merchants and mercenary hesitated to ask. Captain Bernice was looking at the man and trying to appraise him accurately. He appeared to be a simple butcher, running the local butcher shop. Just a normal person who delivered pork chops to old women and had a crush on the local barmaid. But underneath was something else entirely.

He was halfway through the third tier, but her Threat Assessment told her he could win in a fight against any of the Duke's bodyguards, and all of them were well into the fourth tier. His class was murky, warning her about physical and magical attacks. This was a dangerous man. But there was no threat at the moment. Just a smiling man making a delivery. A very good-looking, smiling man. Dress him in finer clothes, and he could fit into the court of any duke or even the Imperial Court.

She wondered about his bloodline. It wouldn't be the first time a noble had hidden an inconvenient descendent in a small village. She didn't miss the magical gear that he wore. Earrings, rings, tattoos? A pair of deadly axes hanging from his apron. This had to be the infamous Butcher of Sedgewick that she'd heard stories about tonight. The same man that now had 103, 000 gold pieces from her treasury. The Great Kallvek stepped forward.

"Ah, Ozzy, so good to see you again. This is my good friend, Bernice, a captain of mercenaries out of Wolfsburg. She and her men helped the Courier and the Shepherd rescue some of the farmers a few weeks back. She was kind enough to escort my wagons through the wilds to supply those same people with goods for their homes. I hate to intrude on your business, but we heard some noise..." Ozzy grinned and rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah, we got a bit loud. I was training my charnel pit, and things got a little out of hand. But we came to a better understanding, and it's all good now." He turned to Bernice, smiled, and shook her hand.

"Thanks for helping get our new farmers safely here, and glad to meet you. Those are some good people you helped rescue. We're taking good care of them now. And I appreciate the business. I'm saving up for an expansion to my butcher shop, and every coin I can earn selling bacon gets me a little closer." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. She smiled up at him. How tall was he? She was used to looking any man in the eye.

"My troops will be thanking you each morning. Good to meet you. Business is good then?" Bernice couldn't help but test his grip when he extended his hand. With a strength of 32, she was careful not to squeeze too hard, despite the muscles she saw on him. She was surprised when he winked and squeezed back with far more strength than she could muster. She was thankful when he released her hand after only a small squeeze.

"Yep. Business is booming. I need to expand the butcher shop and put in a sausage factory. Big orders are coming in, and it's time to get to work." He tipped his head respectfully to the merchants.

"And thanks for arranging that deal. I'll make sure that all the barrels are delivered in the next month." Even Roderick was surprised. He was used to the speed that the workers of Sedgewick could complete projects, but still, this was a thousand barrels of goods!

"Only a month? Our terms gave you 180 days."

"Just a month should do, and that's only because of the time needed to make the barrels. After we trim the stockyards and feed the dungeon, I'll haul down a couple of wagonloads of meat each night. There's a good crop of lads and lasses over in the Hamlets that are hard workers. I'll train a few of them to carve meat and make sausage. A village can't have too many butchers." Bernice yelled to some of her troops in the village square to handle the barrels of bacon.

The Butcher waved, took his wagon, and started jogging up to the ancient city.

"I hope you have more wine, Emilio, or something stronger. I have some more questions. They went back inside the emporium and upstairs. Back in the town square, the clock in the tower chimed the hour. A burst of flame lit up the grill of the kobold cooking food and throwing it on plates for hungry soldiers. Two workers pushed a wagonload piled with raw meat into the smokehouse, where it was met with a low growl of pleasure and the rattle of chains. In Gadobhra, Baron William greeted his guests.

Suzette had shown up at his door and walked in as soon as the door was opened. She curtseyed to the Baroness and then walked over to the wine rack, her professional eye finding the most expensive bottle. As the Baroness and Baron watched, she poured three glasses and served them. Layla watched her move. She'd moved up again, somehow. More confidence, more grace. Layla would have clawed her eyes out from jealousy if they hadn't become friends. But being Baroness helped. A little.

It was time she and the barmaid had another conversation about the best way to progress. Suzette held up her glass.

"I propose a toast. To the Royal Gnomish Bank of Sedgewick, which has just expanded to include the Hamlets, Gadobhra, and Rowan Keep inside its influence. And to the upcoming expansion. Our banker has proposed opening a branch here in Gadobhra." Glasses clinked, and while the women sipped at their drinks, Billy drained his and poured more.

"A Bank? Now things are moving in the right direction. What will it take to let us open up buying and selling from shops in Gadobhra to the rest of the Empire or grab real-world money? I want to crush all those little piss-ants who think they can keep me out of the markets." Suzette and Layla shared a glance. Billy was at his best when he was in 'conquer the world mode.'

"Same problem as finishing the keep. We need teleporters, and we need them tied into the Imperial System." Billy was pacing back and forth.

"One solution to many problems. Fine, I can work with that. Rolly is back, so as soon as Ben returns, we hit the ghouls, get all the pieces of the old teleporter, and give them to the crazy professors. They're putting together a list of materials we need. That leaves our 'special consultants.' Getting them loose will be tricky, but we have a working plan that's crazy enough that it might work." He strode to the window and was joined by the other two as they looked out over the ruins of the City of Butchers.

"We can do this. Money's tight, we don't have much time, and everything relies on crazed magicians and luck, but I've worked with less." The Butcher of Sedgewick has deposited 51, 500 gold to your account. Sold: Three barrels of Trifecta bacon at 1000 gold pieces each for a total of 3000. Sold: One thousand barrels of Sedgewick Sausage at 100 gold pieces each for a total of 100, 000. 50% of sales x 103, 000 = 51, 500 gold pieces. Billy shared the notification with Suzette, his eyes blazing.

"Well, money just got less tight. Tell Ozzy to talk to me about where he wants his Sausage Factory. I've got some building points to spend and know a good investment when I see one."